I know burning of candles is a no-no with birds indoors. It saddens me because my house always smelled so good before I got birds! Because I live in a manufactured home with poor air circulation and no return air vent at all, the air in my house tends to get stale overnight and during the day while I'm gone. I would use candles to combat this. We live in the country on a dirt road that is used frequently so having the windows open is quite dusty, but ok for now. Once the temps reach into the 80's not so much. Are candles OK if I put them on a warmer as opposed to burning the wick? What about essential oils on rings that you put on a lightbulb in the evenings? Is this OK to do at all or only when the cage covers are on or what? I just miss my house smelling fresh and fragrant as opposed to ....stale. I don't trust the scent plug in thingys because I would die of agony if my house caught fire and my birds burned to death. I wouldn't do anything to put my fids at risk but is there anything I can do to combat this problem? Does anyone have help for me on this?

A lot of people make their own simmer pots with orange peel, cloves, cinnamin sticks, they're a nice alternative to candles and won't hurt your birds

well. i dont know much. but i had to stop burning candles too.. and using all of the plug in things.. also. all canned air freshner.. so pretty much all of that is a big no no... you could try baking some apples.. or cinnamon sticks...

I also live in a manufactured home and the only thing I do is the orange peel and cinnamon. Just to be on the safe side of my FIDS.

Yep-- slice up 1/2 orange & 1/2 lemon-- throw in a pot with 2 cups of water. Then throw in almost 1/4 cup of clove, 2 bayleaves, 2 cinnamon sticks. Simmer on stove.

This has pacified my smelly-loving hubby! He misses his Yankee candles!!

The orange, apple simmering thing is a great idea. I remember back a few years ago the stores used to sell little crock-pot ( slow cooker) containers for that same purpose. When using a crock pot you don't have to worry about the stove being on.

I also miss my candles AND the Berger Lamp that mom got me for Christmas that cost her an arm and a leg. With the weather getting nicer here I wonder if I can use it while Sharlee is outside..will it still be dangerous to her if the scent is still there when she comes back in?

I've used both the crock pot and stove. The nice thing about the crock pot, like Sharlee said, you don't have to worry about the stove being on. As long as you fill the crock pot daily with water, then it works great!! The bonus with using the stove is that it is a much stronger smell. The crock pot isn't quite as potent.

I know what ya mean. I just cleaned out the hall closet and I have so many candles in there ..I just don't know what to do with em. I hate to toss em..maybe I'll give em to my sis. I will not burn anything with a wick anymore. I only (and this is rare..and in another room) will burn my tarts (no wick..made from soy) on the electric tart burner. I make sure it's far away from my fids..and really only do it if company is coming. I also got rid of all my plug in stuff too. I think I'm gonna try orange/lemon/cinnamon/clove thing. Sounds like it smells great. I know what ya mean though by missing your house smelling yummy.

You can also use mulling spices like you do for mulled cider or wine

you can use anything edible in them...

You can even use rose hips or rose petals or lavendar etc...vanilla, Allspice use your imagination and come up with stuff that smells good to you...just don't use any petroleum based products

Please educate me on the dangers of candles and QP's. Thanks so much!

Jo, From what I understand about candles and birds is that the metal in wicks which is actually Zinc I think, burns and the particulates in the air are very harmful, deadly to birds since they have such a small but efficient respiratory system. Also if the candles are made from wax that is petroleum based it also can give off toxins when being burned. Its my understanding that that's why the scented oils and what not are also bad for our feathered friends. I may be wrong on that fact but that's my understanding...some one please correct me if I'm wrong.

what andies mom said about candles is right but the wax itself gets into the air and coats feathers etc as well.

Use lemons when you clean does help give the house a nice fresh smell. Lemons are also good after you cut onions and garlic to remove the scent off your hands. I also like to put a slit in a vanilla bean and leave it out on a countertop (but it also makes me crave cinnamon rolls) or you could make your own potporri as others have suggested.

I am a freak in the sense that I like spicey/herbal type smells as opposed to floral ones. I keep an open jar with whole nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and whole star anise in it. You dont even need to simmer that combination its pretty potent.

Does anyone know whether beeswax candles with a plant fiber wick would be okay? I just love the smell. I haven't burned it in a long time, but I was thinking of burning it in our musty basement so maybe we can start using that space more. (Bird is upstairs, so wouldn't even be on the same floor as the candle)

This was recommended by my vet being safe and efficient.

Click Here !!!